Media actuated media diverter for an imaging device

Abstract

A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a media guide positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a plate having a media guiding surface and a media contact surface along portions of the edge of the plate. The plate is received within a slot through the guide member such that in a first position the media contact surface extends into the duplex path and when in a second position the media guiding surface extends into the simplex path with the plate biasable in the first position. A media sheet fed into the duplex path contacts the media contact surface actuating the media diverter to move the plate to the second position directing a following media sheet in the simplex path to an exit of the imaging device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A media actuated, media diverter mountable on a guide member for a media sheet in a media path of an imaging device, the media path having a simplex path and a duplex path with the media guide member positioned between an exit of the simplex path and an entrance of the duplex path and an exit of the imaging device, the media diverter comprising:
 a plate having a media guiding surface along a first portion of an edge of the plate and a media contact surface along a second portion of the edge; and 
 the plate sized to be movable in a slot through the guide member such that in a first position the media contact surface extends into the duplex path and when in a second position the media guiding surface extends into the simplex path, the plate biasable in the first position; 
 wherein a media sheet fed into the duplex path contacts the media contact surface actuating the media diverter to move the plate to the second position wherein a following media sheet in the simplex path is directed to the exit of the imaging device. 
 
     
     
       2. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of plates and the slot comprises a plurality of slots spaced across a width of the guide member. 
     
     
       3. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 2 , wherein the media guiding surface has a convex shape. 
     
     
       4. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 2 , wherein the media guiding surface has a concave shape. 
     
     
       5. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 2 , wherein the media guiding surface on at least one plate in the plurality of plates has a convex shape and at least one other plate in the plurality of plates has a concave shape. 
     
     
       6. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a support member interconnecting with each plate in the plurality of plates, the support member mounted adjacent to the media contact surface; and 
 a biasing member positioned between the support member and the guide member to bias the media diverter in the first position. 
 
     
     
       7. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rod; and 
 the plate having a pivot hole and the guide member having a hole therethrough intersecting a wall of the slot with the pivot hole and the hole in the guide member sized to receive the rod; 
 wherein with the rod positioned within the hole in the guide member and extending into the slot and through the pivot hole, the plate is rotatably mounted within the slot. 
 
     
     
       8. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 7 , wherein the plate has a center of gravity offset from a vertical centerline of the pivot hole for biasing the plate in the first position. 
     
     
       9. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 8 , wherein a weight is provided in the plate to offset the center of gravity of the plate. 
     
     
       10. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 8 , wherein a cutout is provided in the plate to offset the center of gravity of the plate, the cutout in the plate forming a first finger having the media guiding surface and a second finger having the media contact surface. 
     
     
       11. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 10 , wherein the first finger and the second finger are configured in one of C-shaped orientation and a Z-shaped orientation. 
     
     
       12. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 8 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of plates and the slot comprises a plurality of slots spaced across a width of the guide member. 
     
     
       13. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 12 , wherein the media guiding surface has a convex shape. 
     
     
       14. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 12 , wherein the media guiding surface has a concave shape. 
     
     
       15. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 12 , wherein the media guiding surface on at least one plate in the plurality of plates has a convex shape and at least one other plate in the plurality of plates has a concave shape. 
     
     
       16. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the plate having a pair of trunnions extending from each surface of the plate and the guide member having a corresponding pair of trunnion mounts in communication with the slot near an upper end thereof for receiving the pair of trunnions; 
 wherein with the pair of trunnions mounted in the pair of trunnion mounts, the plate is rotatably mounted within the slot. 
 
     
     
       17. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring mounted on one of the trunnions for biasing the plate in the first position. 
     
     
       18. The media actuated, media diverter of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of plates received into a plurality of corresponding slots spaced across a width of the guide member. 
     
     
       19. An imaging device, comprising:
 a controller; 
 an exit path assembly in communication with and driven by the controller, the exit path assembly comprising:
 a first exit nip formed by a first roll and a second roll; and 
 a second exit nip formed by the second roll and a third roll, the rotational direction of the second roll being opposite the rotational direction of the first and third rolls; 
 
 a media input tray; 
 a media output area for receiving media exiting the exit path assembly; 
 a media feed mechanism in communication with and driven by the controller for feeding a media sheet from the media input tray; 
 a media path having a simplex path and a duplex path, the simplex path having an entrance adjacent the media input tray for receiving the fed media sheet and an exit adjacent the second exit nip of the exit path assembly, the duplex path having an entrance adjacent the exit of the simplex path and adjacent the first exit nip of exit path assembly and an exit adjacent the entrance of the simplex path; 
 an imaging area intermediate the entrance and exit of the simplex path for imaging one side of the fed media sheet; 
 a media guide member positioned between the exit of the simplex path and the entrance of the duplex path and having a slot therethrough in communication with the simplex path and the duplex path; and 
 a media diverter mounted on the media guide, the media diverter comprising:
 a plate having a media guiding surface along a first portion of an edge of the plate and a media contact surface along a second portion of the edge; and 
 the plate sized to be received within a slot through the guide member such that in a first position the media contact surface extends into the duplex path and when in a second position the media guiding surface extends into the simplex path, the plate biasable in the first position; 
 
 wherein a media sheet fed into the duplex path from the first exit nip of the exit path assembly contacts the media contact surface actuating the media diverter to move the plate to the second position wherein a following media sheet in the simplex path is directed to the second exit nip of exit path assembly and output to the output area. 
 
     
     
       20. The imaging device of  claim 19 , wherein the media diverter further comprises a plurality of plates received into a plurality of corresponding slots spaced across a width of the guide member. 
     
     
       21. The imaging device of  claim 20 , wherein the media guiding surface has a convex shape. 
     
     
       22. The imaging device of  claim 20 , wherein the media guiding surface has a concave shape. 
     
     
       23. The imaging device of  claim 20 , wherein the media guiding surface on at least one plate in the plurality of plates has a convex shape and at least one other plate in the plurality of plates has a concave shape. 
     
     
       24. The imaging device of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a support member interconnecting with each plate in the plurality of plates, the support member mounted adjacent to the media contact surface; and 
 a biasing member positioned between the support member and the guide member to bias the media diverter in the first position. 
 
     
     
       25. The imaging device of  claim 19 , wherein the media diverter further comprises:
 a rod; and 
 the plate having a pivot hole and the guide member having a hole therethrough intersecting a wall of the slot with the pivot hole and the hole in the guide member sized to receive the rod; 
 wherein with the rod positioned within the hole in the guide member and extending into the slot and through the pivot hole, the plate is rotatably mounted within the slot. 
 
     
     
       26. The imaging device of  claim 25 , wherein the plate of media diverter has a center of gravity offset from a vertical centerline of the pivot hole for biasing the plate in the first position. 
     
     
       27. The imaging device of  claim 26 , wherein a weight is provided in the plate to offset the center of gravity of the plate. 
     
     
       28. The imaging device of  claim 26 , wherein a cutout is provided in the plate to offset the center of gravity of the plate, the cutout in the plate forming a first finger having the media guiding surface and a second finger having the media contact surface. 
     
     
       29. The imaging device of  claim 28 , wherein the first finger and the second finger are configured in one of C-shaped orientation and a Z-shaped orientation. 
     
     
       30. The imaging device of  claim 26 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of plates and the slot comprises a plurality of slots spaced across a width of the guide member. 
     
     
       31. The imaging device of  claim 30 , wherein the media guiding surface has a convex shape. 
     
     
       32. The imaging device of  claim 30 , wherein the media guiding surface has a concave shape. 
     
     
       33. The imaging device of  claim 30 , wherein the media guiding surface on at least one plate in the plurality of plates has a convex shape and at least one other plate in the plurality of plates has a concave shape. 
     
     
       34. The imaging device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 the plate having a pair of trunnions extending from each surface of the plate and the guide member having a corresponding pair of trunnion mounts in communication with the slot near an upper end thereof for receiving the pair of trunnions; 
 wherein with the pair of trunnions mounted in the pair of trunnion mounts, the plate is rotatably mounted within the slot. 
 
     
     
       35. The imaging device of  claim 34 , further comprising a spring mounted on one of the trunnions for biasing the plate in the first position. 
     
     
       36. The imaging device of  claim 34 , further comprising a plurality of plates received into a plurality of corresponding slots spaced across a width of the guide member.